Good and Bad Buys at Lidl and Aldi stores (***Please don't expire***)

Cornucopia

Doc_N said:

sammyjammy said:

I agree, i definitely spend more money in Aldi these days than Lidl, some of that is due to transport.  The only thing that Lidl really has over Aldi is the bakery which I love.

Probably just me, but I loathe the Lidl bakery because it contains nothing I want to buy (mostly too sugary or too expensive) and restricts the range of bread they sell.  Aldi has a far better range of breads as a result.

I agree with this - I get my free ISB item each month, but otherwise get pre-packed bakery items.

Brie

I think that Aldi staff must be encouraged to chat with the customers whereas it's rare to find one at Lidl with any conversational skills.  And I'm referring to the brits working there really.  I'm always making pleasantries with the till staff and normally will get a grunt or a blank stare as if I'm completely bonkers (no comments please!!).  The other staff members who in our area tend to be eastern European tend to be willing and able to chat a bit while scanning stuff. 

The Aldi staff are probably friendly 95% of the time.   The best being a chap who somehow has moved here from Tennessee and is a dang good laugh.  

Doc_N

Brie said:

I think that Aldi staff must be encouraged to chat with the customers whereas it's rare to find one at Lidl with any conversational skills.  And I'm referring to the brits working there really.  I'm always making pleasantries with the till staff and normally will get a grunt or a blank stare as if I'm completely bonkers (no comments please!!).  The other staff members who in our area tend to be eastern European tend to be willing and able to chat a bit while scanning stuff. 

The Aldi staff are probably friendly 95% of the time.   The best being a chap who somehow has moved here from Tennessee and is a dang good laugh.  

Exactly our experience with the two stores, although to be fair the Lidls do vary and some are better. It’s odd, really, because it costs nothing to be friendly with customers, so I can only assume either that Lidl haven’t the good sense to realise that or that their staff are pretty disaffected.

Cornucopia

If anyone is interested in trying Aldi Click & Collect, you can find out which of your local stores offer it using this page:

https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/Grocery-Click-and-Collect

olgadapolga

Doc_N said:

Brie said:

I think that Aldi staff must be encouraged to chat with the customers whereas it's rare to find one at Lidl with any conversational skills.  And I'm referring to the brits working there really.  I'm always making pleasantries with the till staff and normally will get a grunt or a blank stare as if I'm completely bonkers (no comments please!!).  The other staff members who in our area tend to be eastern European tend to be willing and able to chat a bit while scanning stuff. 

The Aldi staff are probably friendly 95% of the time.   The best being a chap who somehow has moved here from Tennessee and is a dang good laugh.  

Exactly our experience with the two stores, although to be fair the Lidls do vary and some are better. It’s odd, really, because it costs nothing to be friendly with customers, so I can only assume either that Lidl haven’t the good sense to realise that or that their staff are pretty disaffected.

I don't have the same experience at all. The staff in Lidl are much more engaging and friendly than the staff in  Aldi.

Brie

Doc_N said:

Exactly our experience with the two stores, although to be fair the Lidls do vary and some are better. It’s odd, really, because it costs nothing to be friendly with customers, so I can only assume either that Lidl haven’t the good sense to realise that or that their staff are pretty disaffected.

It's as if (sweeping genalisation alert) the Brits working at Lidl think it's beneath them to work at a "discount" store.  Whereas the Europeans know it's an international brand of which they can be proud.  And possibly as they know that if/when they return to their land of origin they will be able to get a job with Lidl there very quickly too.

maman

I'm another that does most of my shopping in Aldi. 

I use Lidl occasionally to stock up on a few favourite items. We particularly like their cornichons, muesli, bratwurst, dishwasher salt and rinse aid and their rye bread. The latter because it fits our toaster which Aldi's one doesnt! 🤣

Surprised that no dried thyme in Aldi this week (not even a space for it 🤔) so will add that to the Lidl list. 

Doc_N

Cornucopia said:

If anyone is interested in trying Aldi Click & Collect, you can find out which of your local stores offer it using this page:

https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/Grocery-Click-and-Collect

As mentioned above, I'd thoroughly recommend this for anyone else who's immunosuppressed and can't go into stores - it's safe, simple and the only downside is the £4.95 charge. Easily covered by savings on a largish order, particularly if you include the classic Aldi 'bargains' such as washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, soap, shampoo, chocolate, cheese, meats, wines etc.

Cornucopia

Brie said:

Doc_N said:

Exactly our experience with the two stores, although to be fair the Lidls do vary and some are better. It’s odd, really, because it costs nothing to be friendly with customers, so I can only assume either that Lidl haven’t the good sense to realise that or that their staff are pretty disaffected.

It's as if (sweeping genalisation alert) the Brits working at Lidl think it's beneath them to work at a "discount" store.  Whereas the Europeans know it's an international brand of which they can be proud.  And possibly as they know that if/when they return to their land of origin they will be able to get a job with Lidl there very quickly too.

Not sure about that.   In my town, the Aldi is staffed mostly by Brits, and the Lidl mostly by East Europeans.   Having said that, when I was there earlier there were lots of new staff - student aged, and very energetically re-stocking the shelves.

Rosa_Damascena

I'm not at all impressed with the big Lidl in town today having nipped in at 3.30pm. Own brand tomato ketchup has been OOS for month now, their Gold instant coffee went up from £1.89 to £2.29 for 200g and the freezer cabinets were devoid of any decent ice cream. Although I can accept the latter to be my own fault for leaving it too late.